Dan Genz, The Examiner
2008-04-08 07:00:00.0
Current rank: Not ranked

WASHINGTON -

Northern Virginia property sellers who paid more than $11.9 million in unconstitutional property taxes can begin the process to get their money back.

The five clerks of circuit court across the region posted the sales records Friday of thousands of properties eligible for refunds, most more than $1,000.

The Loudoun County clerk of circuit court placed the records of 1,053 property sales averaging $2,123 per refund on an average sale of $530,750.

“We are still waiting for the settlement companies to contact us,” land records manager Kevin Blatchley said, referring to the banks and title companies that execute land and home sales.

Tax bills ranged from a few hundred dollars to more than $10,000. Habitat for Humanity is owed a $420 refund on a $105,000 home sale while one seller will collect $63,477 on a property sale worth almost $15.9 million.

The Northern Virginia Transportation Authority was sending the money to the clerks to start the refund process last week, but Blatchley said the funds had not yet arrived by 2 p.m. Friday.

Anticipating a rush of client interest, Highland Title and Escrow compared its records Friday with those posted on the Internet, attorney and owner Michael McFarlane said.

“I’m surprised none of our sellers have called asking, ‘Where’s my check?’ ” he said. The company now has to produce affidavits to collect the money from clerks.

Officials had estimated the tax would generate more than $170 million annually for road projects but were slashing their expectations as the real estate market faltered.

dgenz@dcexaminer.com